Can closing machine



June 12, 1934. s. TOWNSEND CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

Filed June 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1934. J 5 TOWNSEND 1,962,625

CAN CLOSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 26233 7 J5 38 II z7 k 9 M J 1 I 27 L L] 51 I v Ill Z9 25 zs Jhn/ J 7 Patented June 12, 1934 number of these jaws may be utilized, the

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,962,625 CAN CLOSING ACHINE Application June 12, 1931, Serial No. 543,888

7 Claims.

This invention relates to closing machines of the type used for manually closing or fastening the covers on lead kegs, steel pails, containers or the like. In using these closing machines,the operator places the machine on one pail or container, closes the same, and then removes the machine and places it on another pail or container preparatory for closing the same and thus continues on with the work. In closing a steel pail, a considerable amount of effort is required to bend the cover lugs'or rings to closing position, it being estimated that a pressure of approximately twenty-five thousand pounds is necessary in some instances to perform this operation. It will thus be seen'that it is desirable to make such machines as light as possible and also to design the same so that the work may be performed'by the operator in the most advantageous manner possible.

The objects of this invention are to provide a machine of this character which will be compare,

tively light and which will be particularly efficient and durable in operation and will permit the work to be performed with a minimum amount of effort; to provide a closing machine having comparatively few parts and having lever systems for actuating the closing jaws in an advantageous manner; to provide a catch or fastening device for holding the parts in normal position; and to provide such novel features in construction and advantages in operation as will appear more fully from thefollowingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention;

Figure 1 is a front view of the closing machine with parts broken away;

Figure 2 isa view similar to Figure 1 showing the machine in closing position;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view; and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

My improved machine is provided with a base 5 which is adapted to rest on the can cover and which preferably is arranged to fit in the depression usually provided in such covers. The base is provided with peripheral lugs 6 on which the closing jaws '7 are carried by pivot pins 8. Any present machine showing sixteen.

A center post 9 projects upwardly from the base 5, being preferably secured in a hub 10, as shown. An elongated sleeve or slide 11 is mounted on the post 9 and has an outwardly projecting flange 12. Links 13 have their lower ends pivoted to the respective closing jaws 7 and their upper ends pivoted to the flange or projection 12 in any suitable manner, as by means of a hearing or pivot ring 14 which is held in position by a cover or plate 15 and bolts 16. v

The post 9 has a cross head or bar 17 at the top which may be formed integrally therewith or for convenience may be welded thereto. Toggle links 18 and 19 are pivoted at 20 and 21 to the cross head or hearing 17 and are pivoted at 22 and 23 respectively to the lower ends of handle arms or levers 24 and 25. The handle arm 24 is pivoted at 26 in a bearing formed in an extension or projection 27 on the side of the slide 11 and the handle arm 25 is pivoted at 28 in a similar bearing or projection on the opposite side of the slide. The handle arms 24 and 25 are'provided respectively with handles 29 and 30. These handle bars are also preferably slightly bent to bring the handles into convenient operating position.

The parts are held in normal position by means of a latch on one of the handle arms which coacts with the head or cross bar 1'7. In the arrangement shown, this latch comprises a rod 31 which projects through a hole 32 in the handle member 30 and is provided at its upper end with a handle or grip 33. The lower end is bent to form a catch or'engaging portion 34 which engages with a slot 35 in a bearing 36 in the side of the handle arm 24. A spring 37 is interposed is secured to the rod 31 and tends to hold the latch in engaging position. A cotter pin 39 through the bearing 36 prevents the latch or bent portion of the rod from becoming disengaged from. the bearing. l

When the machine is to be used, the operator grasps the handles 29 and 30 and places the base on the can cover with the closing jaws in position to engage with the cover lugs or closing rings. He then releases the latch by pulling up on the handle 33 and presses downwardly which causes the upper portions of the handle arms to swing outwardly. During this movement it will be seen that the portions of the handle arms below their pivots 26 and 28 coact with the links 18 and 19 to form toggles whereby the leverage is greatly increased toward the limit of the closing movement as indicated in Figure 2. As the handle arms are swung outwardly and downwardly they force the slide or carriage 11 down on the post 9 thereby as the links 13 move toward their closing position so that I provide substantially a double toggle lever system for actuating the closing jaws whereby the closing operation may be performed with a minimum amount of effort on behalf of the user. The high efliciency of the present machine is mainly due to the mechanical advantage arising from the fact that the closure is performed through the operation of the two toggle systems in which each toggle approaches a straight line position as the maximum requirement for pressure is desired. Furthermore, the levers are so proportioned and arranged that the maximum closing effect on behalf of the operator occurs after the handle arms have been started downwardly and are in the most convenient position for the operator to exert downward pressure on the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a can closing machine, the combination of a base, closing jaws pivotally mounted around the base, a center post projecting upwardly from the base, aslide mounted on said post, links connecting the slide with the closing jaws, a cross piece at the top of the post, links pivoted to said cross piece, and handle arms pivoted to the slide and to said last named links the arrangement being such that the first named links provide a toggle action and the second named links coact with the handle arms to provide another toggle action which toggles reach their most efiective positions toward the end of the closing movement.

2. A can closing machine comprising a base for engagement with a can cover, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted around the base and having closing jaws at their lower ends, a post extending upwardly from the base, a slidable member mounted on said post, toggle links connecting said member with said levers, a pair of handle arms pivoted to said slidable member and having their inner ends crossed, a bearing at the top of the post and linksconnecting the bearing with the inner ends of said handle arms to form toggles, the arrangement being such that when the handles are swung outwardly the arms will force the slidable member down to swing the jaws to closing position.

3. In a machine for closing containers, the combination of a support adapted to engage with the container cover, a center post projecting upwardly from the support, a cross piece carried by said post, links pivoted to said cross piece, a sleeve slidably mounted on the post, handle levers, pivoted to said sleeve and having their inner ends crossed and pivoted to the respective links, closing members pivoted around the periphery of the sup port and arms connecting the closing members with the sleeve for forcing the upper ends of the closing members outwardly when the sleeve is depressed.

4. A can closing machine comprising a base adapted to engage with the can cover, a post mounted in the center of the base and having a cross piece at the top thereof, links pivoted to said cross piece, a slide mounted on the post, handle levers pivoted to said slide and having their inner ends pivoted to said links, a plurality of jaws pivoted around the base and adapted to coact therewith for crimping the can covers, links pivoted to the jaws and to the slide and forming toggle connections therewith which approach straight line positions toward the end of the closing movement, and a catch coacting with one of said handle levers for holding the parts in adjusted position.

5. In a can closing machine, the combination of a base, closing jaws pivoted on said base, a post projecting from the base, a slide mounted on said post, links connecting the slide with the closing jaws, a cross piece on said post, handle levers pivoted on opposite sides of the slide with their inner ends projecting beyond the post, links connecting the irmer ends of the arms with said cross bar, a rod slidably mounted on one of the handle arms and having a projection adapted'to engage with the cross bar to hold the arms in raised position, and a spring tending. to hold the rod in engaging position.

6. A can closing machine including a supporting member adapted to rest on the can cover, a post extending upwardly from the center of said supporting member, closing jaws operatively associated with said supporting member for acting on the parts for closing the can, a block slidably mounted on the post, toggles connecting the block with the respective jaws and adapted to approach straight line position at the end of the stroke, two handle levers pivoted to the block and toggle connections between the levers and the post above the block, which togglesalso approach straight 7. A closing machine adapted for manual operation, comprising a supporting member adapted to engage with the cover of the receptacle to be closed, a plurality of closing jaws pivoted at the periphery of said member, a post projecting upwardly from said member, a slidable block on said post, toggles coacting with the block and the jaws and moving to approach a straight line at the end of the closing stroke, two hand levers pivoted to said block and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, links connecting the inner ends of the levers with the top of the post and adapted to form toggles, which toggles also approach straight lines at the end of the closing stroke.

JOHN S. TOWNSEND. 

